Roller blind and fitting therefor



Feb. 11, 1930. V w. J. HADDEN 1,746,936

ROLLER BLIND AND FITTING 'PHEREFOR Filed ma 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 11, 1930. w; J. HADDEN ROLLER BLIND AND FITTING THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed May 10, 1927 I m wsn ro/e 11/ 1/ a Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM JAMES HADDEN, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR TO DONALDSON MANU- FACTURING COMPANY LIMITED, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND ROLLER BLIND AND FITTING THEREFOR Application filed May 10, 1927, Serial No. 190,328, and in Great Britain April 26, 1927.

This invention relates to roller blinds oi the type including a ratchet wheel held to the blind roller by friction for permitting the blind to be lowered to and held in different positions while the ratchet wheel remains locked, and refers also to fittings therefor.

In blinds of this type the roller is usually provided with a drum at one end around which the blind cord is wound automatically as the blind is lowered, by being pulled down, the cord requiring to be pulled in order to raise the blind and in so doing a long length of cord is left hanging from the blind roller.

The present invention consists in a roller 15 blind of the above type having means whereby the blind cord after the blind has been moved to a required position by the cord, is automatically retracted to its initial position. The invention is particularly adapted for motor cars, busses and railway carriages, as, when the blind cord is automatically retracted its tassel will, in such vehicles, be held up against the roller and will not freely swing about.

This invention also provides certain novel arrangements and constructions of the roller blind fittings to. be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereunto.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a window with. the blind applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section of the roller removed showing the construction of the fittings.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of parts of one fitting detached.

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views of the other fitting detached.

In the practical embodiment shown in the drawings the roller 1 and blind 2 are of any usual form. The end members are con structed as separate fittings each of which comprises circular flanged disc engaging and fixed by screws 4 to the proximate end 01": the roller and an axially extending journal which is formed with a shoulder between its end and the disc and is tapped at its end. On each end journal there is a loosely mounted ratchet wheel which is frictionally clutched to the journal by spring washers.

One end member shown in Figs. 9 and has an end journal 6 provided with a pair of spring washers bearing one at either side of the ratchet wheel 10, one spring washer 11 being disposed between the ratchet wheel and a washer 12 contacting with the said shoulder 9 on the journal and the other spring washer 13 between the ratchet wheel and washer 14 bearing against an end 15 of a sleeve nut 16 screwed on the journal. This end fitting is enclosed in a two part cover 1718, onepart 17 of which carries a pawl 19 for engaging the ratchet wheel 10, and a bearing spindle 8 which projects into the sleeve nut 16.

The member shown assembled at the right hano end of Fig. 2 and in detail in Figs. 3-8 has a journal 20 provided with one spring washer 21 only, located between the shoulder on the journal and a disc washer 22 in contact with the ratchet wheel 23, see Figs. 3 and 4. In this case, however, a cord drum 24, Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is located at the outer side of the ratchet wheel, in contact with the side thereof, this drum being rotatably mounted on a sleeve nut 25 screwed upon the journal and being provided with two oppositely extending cylindrical flanges 26, 27 within which there is fitted disc rings 28, 29, the one 29 at the outer end being removable. Between the druni and the inner disc ring 28 there is mounted a number of, say three, pawls 30 rockable on rivets '31 extending between the said drum flange and disc ring, and adapted to engage with the ratchet wheel. Within the outer flanged part 27 and rotatably mounted on the sleeve-nut- 25 is a sleeve 32 between which and the said flanged part is located a coil spring 33 anchored to the two parts. One end 34 of the spring 33 is passed through slits 35 in the flanged part 27 and the other end 36 is passed through a slit 37 in the sleeve 32. This end fitting is also enclosed in a two partcover 40-41, one part 40 having rigidly secured thereto a plate 40 on which is formed projections 42 which engage in slots 43 in the sleeve and having a bearing spindle 44 which projects within the sleeve nut. The cord 45, which is adapted to wind around the part between the drum flanges is secured at one end by passing it through a hole 47 in one flange and knotting this end of the cord (see Figs. 5 and 6). The other end of the cord passes through a hole 48 in the cover part 40 and is preferably provided with a tassel 49 or other similar device.

The two part covers 1718 and 4041 are made to detachably fit together so that the end fitting can be inspected and parts thereof adjusted, removed, changed and replaced. These covers are provided with apertured lugs 50 by which they can be fixed to the win dow frame 51.

The sleeve-nuts 16 and 25 at both ends can be moved by screwing them more or less onto the journal and by this means the tension of the spring washers can be adjusted. A grub screw 57 is provided in each sleeve-nut, which when screwed against the journal serves to lock the sleeve-nut in its adjusted position. By removing the covers, the sleeve-nuts and other parts can be readily adjusted, removed, changed or replaced.

The window frame 51 is preferably provided with two guide ropes 60 adapted to engage in eyed projections 61 fixed to the usual blind stick 62, said ropes being attached by eyed projections 63. The blind is provided with a tassel 64.

Assuming the parts constituting the roller blind have been assembled and fixed in place and assuming that the blind is up and that the cord has been wound around its drum so that only the tassel extends beyond the end casing, then in operation, when the blind is lowered by pulling down the tassel (i l the roller is rotated but the ratchet wheel 10 is retained by the pawl 19, so that the ratchet wheel is stationary, the roller rotating against the friction set up by the spring washers 11 and 13, and the ratchet wheel 23 is arranged to simply rotate freely. The blind will stay in any position to which it is moved. To raise the blind the tassel 49 attached to the cord 45 is pulled, thus rotating the drum 24 which causes the pawls 30 to engage with and rotate the ratchet wheel 23, and which in turn acts through the friction set up by the spring washer 21 to rotate the roller as a whole. When rotating the drum in this direction the ratchet wheel 10 runs freely. Moreover, in this movement, the coil spring 33 will be tightened by the rotation of the drum relative to the sleeve 32. When, therfore, the blind has been moved up to the required position and the cord released the drum will be rotated by the coil spring 33 so as to return the drum to its initial position relative to the casing, automatically rewinding the cord onto the drum and thereby retracting it to its original position.

In this way the blind can be raised when and to the extent required and the cord will be rewound or retracted to its initial position irrespective of the position of the blind.

It will be understood that it is not essential that the cord be, as assumed, entirely rewound or retracted, the important point being that the cord is rewound or retracted to its original position so that a minimum and constant amount of cord is hanging irrespective of the posit-ion of the blind. Moreover, instead of making the end members as separate fittings adapted to be attached to a blind roller they may be made as a part of the roller, for instance by making the end journals integrally with the roller.

I claim 1. A roller blind having a roller, means frictionally restraining movement of the roller for lowering the blind but allowing free movement of the roller for raising the blind, a cord drum adapted to move the roller for raising the blind, a cord on said drum, and means for returning said drum to its initial position independently of the roller whereby the cord is retracted to its initial position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord. 1

2. A roller blind having a roller, means for frictionally restraining movement of the roller to lower the blind but allowing free movement of the roller for raising the blind,

a cord operated device, a normally retracted cord on said device, for causing said device to move said roller to raise the blind, while allowing independent movement of the roller and device in a reversed direction, and means for automatically operating said device to retract said cord to its normal position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord.

3. A roller blind comprising a roller, means 7 for frictionally restraining movement of the roller for lowering the blind but allowing free movement of the roller for raising the blind, a cord drum adapted when moved in one direction to rotate the roller for raising the blind but when moved in the other direction to rotate independently of the said roller, a cord on said drum, and a spring for automatically retracting the cord to its initial position after the blind has been moved to the required posit-ion by a pull on said cord.

l. A roller blind comprising a roller, a journal at one end of said roller having a shoulder, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said journal, means between said shoulder and ratchet wheel for frictionally holding said ratchet wheel to said journal, a cord drum rotatably mounted at the other side of the ratchet wheel, a cord on said drum adapted to rotate said roller for raising the blind. pawls on said drum engaging said ratchet wheel, a casing enclosing said journal and its associated parts at one end and a coil spring secured to said drum and anchored at its opposite end to the casing adapted to return the cord drum to its initial position relatively to the casing whereby the cord is automatically retracted to its initial position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord.

A roller blind comprising a roller, a journal at one end of said roller having a shoulder, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said journal, a spring washer between said shoulder and said ratchet wheel for holding said wheel to the journal by friction, a cord drum rotatably mounted at the side of the ratchet wheel, a cord for rotating said drum, pawls on said drum engaging said ratchet wheel adapted to cause the drum when moved in one direction to rotate the journal while permitting it to move in the opposite direction independently of said journal, a fixed bearing for said fitting, a spring between said bearing and said drum for automatically retracting said cord to its initial position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord, a sleeve nut adjustably engaging said journal and contacting with said ratchet wheel adapted to vary the tension of the spring washer, and means for locking said sleeve nut in its adjusted position.

6. A roller blind fitting comprising a ournal, means for fixing said ournal on the end bearing, a journal, a ratchet wheel on said journal, means for holding said ratchet wheel to the ournal by friction, a cord drum rotatably mounted at the side of the ratchet wheel, a cord for rotating said drum, pawls on said drum engaging said ratchet wheel adapted to cause the drum when moved in one direction to rotate the journal while permitting it to move in the opposite direction independen ly of said journal, a fixed bearing for said fitting, and means for automatically retracting said cord to its initial position, after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord.

7. A roller blind fitting comprising a ournal having a shoulder, means for fixing said journal on the end of the blind roller, a ratchet wheel on said journal, a spring washer between said shoulder and said ratchet wheel tor holding said wheel to the journal by friction, a cord drum rotatably mounted at the side of the ratchet wheel, a cord for rotating said drum, pawls on said drum engaging said ratchet wheel adapted to cause the drum when moved in one direction to rotate the journal while permitting it to move in the opposite direction independently of said journal, a fixed bearing for said fitting, and a spring between said bearing and said drum for antomatically retracting said cord to its initial position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord.

8. A roller blind comprising a roller, a journal at one end of said roller having a shoulder, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said journal, means between said shoulder and ratchet wheel for frictionally holding said ratchet wheel to said journal, a cord drum rotatably mounted at the other side of the ratchet wheel, a cord on said drum adapted to rotate said roller for raising the blind, pawls on said drum engaging said ratchet wheel, a casing enclosing said ournal and its associated parts at one end, a coil spring secured to said drum at one end, and anchored at its opposite end adapted to return the cord drum to its initial position relatively to the casing whereby the cord is automatically retracted to its initial position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord, a sleeve for anchoring the spring, and means on said casing for engaging said sleeve to hold it stationary.

9. A roller blind comprising a roller, a journal at one end of said roller having a shoulder, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said ournal, a spring washer between said shoulder and said ratchet wheel for holding said wheel to the journal by friction, a cord drum rotatably mounted at the side of the ratchet wheel adapted to cause the drum when moved in one direction to rotate the journal while permitting it to move in the opposite direction independently of said journal, a cord 011 said drum, a fixed bearing for said fitting, a spring between said bearing and said drum for automatically retracting said cord to its initial position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord, a sleeve nut adjustably engaging said journal and contacting with said ratchet wheel adapted to vary the tension of the spring washer, and means for looking said sleeve nut in its adjusted. position.

10. A roller blind fitting comprising an end member adapted to be fixed to one end of the blind roller, said end member having a fixed bearing, a ournal, a ratchet wheel on said journal, means for holding said ratchet wheel to the journal by friction, a cord drum rotatably mounted at the side of the ratchet wheel, a cord on said drum,'pawls on said drum engaging said ratchet wheel adapted to cause the drum when moved in one direction to rotate the journal while permitting it to move in the opposite direction independently of said journal, a fixed bearing for said fitting, and a spring between said bearing and said drum for automatically retracting said cord to its initial position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord.

11. A roller blind fitting comprising an end member adapted to be fixed to one end of the blind roller, said end member having a fixed bearing, a journal, a ratchet Wheel on said journal, means for holding said ratchet wheel to the journal by friction, a cord drum rotatably mounted at the side of the ratchet wheel, a cord on said drum, pawls on said drum engaging said ratchet wheel adapted to cause the drum when moved in one direction to rotate the journal while permitting it to move in the opposite direction independently of said journal, and a spring between said bearing and said drum for automatically retracting said cord to its initial position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord. 7 10 12. A roller blind fitting comprising an end member adapted to be fixed to one end ofthe blind roller, said end member having a fixed bearing, a journal, a ratchet wheel onsaid journal, means for holding said ratchet Wheel to the journal by friction, a cord drum rotatably mounted at the side of the ratchet wheel, a cord on said drum for rotating it, pawls on said drum engaging said ratchet wheel adapted to cause the drum when moved in one direction to rotate the journal while permitting it to move in the opposite direction independently of said journal, a spring between said bearing and said drum for automatically retracting said cord to its initial position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord, and means for adjusting said friction holding means.

13. A roller blind fitting comprising an end member adapted to be fined to one end of the roller, said end member having a fixed bearing, a journal, a ratchet wheel on said journal, means for holding said ratchet wheel to the journal by friction, a cord drum rotatably mounted at the side of the ratchet Wheel, a cord on said drum for rotating it, pawls on said drum engaging said ratchet wheel adapted to cause the drum when moved in one direction to rotate the journal while permitting it to move in the opposite direction independently of said journal, a spring fixed at one end to said drum for automatically retracting said cord to its initial position after the blind has been moved to a required position by a pull on said cord, means for anchoring the opposite end of said spring, and means on said fixed bearing for detachably engaging said anchoring means to retain it stationary while permitting it to be removed for adjustment, renewal and replacement. 14. A blind roller, means frictionally restraining that movement of the roller necessary for lowering the blind, a cord for raising the blind, said blind raising movement being responsive to a pull on the cord to extend the cord from its normal position, and a spring-driven drum for automatically retracting the cord to its normal position after the blind has been raised to a required position. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM JAMES HADDEN. 

